Rail-joint.



No. 724,867. PATLNTLD Amm, 190s.

1 J. F. HOLLIS.

RAIL JOINT.

AAAAAAA TIbN FILED JAN. 28. 1903.

UNITED STATES I PATENT FFIC.

JAMES F. HOLLIS, OFPITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA; l

RAIL-JOINT.

sEci'FIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,867, dated' April' 7, 190s.

Application iled January 28, 1903. Serial No. 140,843. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES F. HOLLIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. A e

This invention relates to certain new and; useful improvement-s in rail-joints, the primary object of the invention being to construct a rail-joint whereby to eifectually join the rails together without the aid of the bolts passing through the webs of said rails and the nuts for holding said bolts in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-joint of this type with a stationary and a removable fish-plate whereby the rails may be readily placedl in position and the removable plate maybe readily removed,where by to permit the removal ofthe rails for replacing or other cause.

Brieiiy'described, the invention comprises a chair embodying a saddle-plate having one of the iish-plates formed integral therewith. This saddle-plate is provided with supportingledges, upon which the rails rest, the base of the rails on one side projecting over beyond the ledge. This projecting portion of the railbase is received in the groove formed in the base of the movable fish-plate, this movable fish-plate having a supporting-ledge to receive the projecting portion of the said railbase. The base-plate of the movable ishplate is provided with an inclined or beveled wall which engages with the inclined or beveled wall formed on the inner edge of the strip or ridge formed integral with the sadt dla-plate. The saddle-plate is provided near each end with apertures to receive securingspikes, and apertures are also provided in the -base-plate of the movable flshplate,which latence is had to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the rail-joint '1 constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the chair, showing the rail in end elevation therein. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the chair with the rails therein, one of the latter being in cross-section.

To put my invention into practice, I provide the chair to receive and support the ends of the rails. This chairembodies a saddleplate 1 of greater thickness along one edge than along its other edge, the outer edge 2 being `the thicker and being provided with suitably placed openings 3 to receive the securing-spikes (not shown) for fastening the fchair along this edge to the cross-ties. On the upper face of the saddle-plate, adjacent to the outer edge thereof, is a fish-plate 4, which is cast integral with the saddle-plate, and this plate may be made so as to merely extend up and engage the end of the rail, or it may be made with a vertical member which engages with the web of the rail and also underneath the tread of the rails 5. The supporting-ledge 6 of the saddle-plate, upon which the rails 5 rest, is on a plane with the upper face `of the thickened outer edge 2 and is consequently above the Yinner edge 7 of the saddle-plate. suitable points adjacent the inner edge with openings 3 to receive the spikes for securing the plate to the cross-ties, and upon the upper face of the saddle-plate adjacent the inner edge is an integral wedge-stri p 8, the inner wall of which is inclined from one end to the other and also beveled or dovetailed, as is the edge of ledge 6,whe1eby to receive the correspondingly-shaped edges 9 l5 of the wedgeplate 10, formed integral with the base of the opposite fish-plate 11. The base of the fishplate 11 is provided with a 'groove 12 in its inner edge to receive the projecting Aportion of the base of the rail 5 which extends beyond the outer edge of the supporting-ledge 6. A part of the Wedge-plate 10 therefore en- .gages under the base of the rails, whereby to insure the proper positioning of the fish-plates The saddle-plate .is provided at,

with respect to each other, the movable iishplate gripping underneath the proj ecting portion of the rail-bases and giving a firm support thereto.

In operation the rails are placed on the snpporting-iedge 6, and the movable sh-plate, which carries the Wedge-plate 10, is then insel-ted in position, the Wedge-plate 10 tightening as it is moved up to position, due to the inclined or tapered inner edge of the Wedgestrip 8 and the making of the Wedge-plate lO of greater Width at one end than at the other to coliform to said wedge-strip 8. The movable fish-plate is therefore when in position locked underneath the projecting portion of the rail-base and with the dovetailed edge of the Wedge-strip 8, though to securely hold the same against accidental displacement I preferably provide the Wedge-plate l0 with apertures l4,providing the saddle-plate l With registering apertures, whereby securingspikes may be inserted therethrough into the cross-ties to securely prevent any movement of the movable fish-plate. The remainder of the chair, including the saddle-plate and integral fish-plate 4, is of course firmly held by the spikes, which are inserted through apertures 3.

While I have herein shown and described a practical embodiment of my invention, yet it will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the in4 vention. Y

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A rail-joint embodying a saddle-plate hav ing an enlarged outer portion, a fish-plate formed integral with said outer enlarged portion, said portion adapted to form a seat' for the rail and extending inwardly near the end of the rail-base, said saddle-plate having a reduced portion extending from the enlarged portion to theinner end of the plate, an integral wedge shaped strip having a dovetailed edge thereto formed on the said reduced portion, said Wedge-shaped strip and the enlarged portion of the saddle-plate forming a wedge-shaped groove therebetween, and a movable iish-plate having a wedge-shaped portion adapted to Iit in the said groove of.

the saddle-plate, and being provided with a recess in its face above the said wedge-shaped portion, to receive the portion of the rail extending beyond. the enlarged portion of the saddle-plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl I aix my signature in 'the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES F. HOLLIS.

W'itnesses:

GEO. B. ROWLEY, A. M. WILSON. 

